Lock-down Day 94

Mewthos and Ziva decided that I should get up at sunrise, so they can go out! I had about 2 hours quiet this morning!

I sorted out the laptop, so I can take it to work now. A colleague reckons it can be fixed and set up - I'm not using it otherwise, so ... 

I've done a bit of game play and such, had a muffin for breakfast - no need to cook today, although I do want to bake bread for At. By noon I decided to take a shower - and in the middle of that, the power went out! Awful! Just suddenly no more water! Well, I was almost done - but hadn't rinsed my hair, yet. I got out, got dressed, and when the power was back, I rinsed my hair in the basin.

In the meantime, Janey took me for a walk! She mipped insistently that I must come, outside the gate ... and she led me to the fence near the outer gate ... I don't know why, though. Yes, I heard Ziva fighting with another cat - at first I thought it was Mini, but she came when I called. And Ziva had been on the bed when Janey led me outside, so I don't think that was the cause. Now Janey is sleeping on the bed ... 

Mini and Janey were unhappy that their fountain didn't fountain when we got back. Mini is very wary of lifting the lid, ever since I gave her a smack one morning. Yes, I'm sorry I hit her, but I'm not sorry she no longer lifts the lid! I was worried that one day she'll do what when I'm not home - and water and electrical cables don't go well together!

And then the power went off again! Well, at least then rent is already paid, as is my credit card. Not enough left for another month, though ... I'm hoping for another UIF payment to cover the rent. I also need groceries.

I've looked online, and Faithful to Nature are out of stock on most stuff, again. Well, I don't need any flour for now, so I just looked for the things I do need ... I was thinking of going to a different store for a change, hoping to get some items Ninapark is usually low on - but I've decided to postpone that until I have more financial security. 

I keep checking on the tracking number for the leaves I've ordered, but there's no change. It still just says 'dispatched 25 June'. I am so sick and tired of 'counting what's left' every single time I feel like a smoke. Calculating in my head how long what's left will last. Taking no more than 2, 3 puffs at most. And the crap is too strong for my liking. For Pete's sake, this must come to an end!

I mean, imagine coffee had suddenly become illegal? No, it's not so far fetched, when you remember that coffee also affects the heart - and a heart condition is a comorbidity. Just like lungs. And then you go to Level 3, by which time we've learned that it's not a respiratory disease after all - but by now some Minister is on a personal mission to stamp out smoking. Imagine if she was on a personal mission to stamp out heart conditions? And just continued to uphold the ban on the sale of coffee?

I seriously wonder about some of those non-smokers out there, who think that this ban is wonderful? Oh, not all non-smokers are like that, of course! But who do the simpletons think is going to end up paying for this ban? All that tax revenue lost? At a time when the country was already bankrupt and is not just sinking deeper and deeper into debt - like quicksand?

If you don't understand how I feel about cigarettes ... try to substitute coffee. Or tea. Or sugar. Or anything YOU enjoy, to sit down and relax. Then imagine having to take 2 or three sips off each cup, then re-heat it next time you want another sip or two. All the while watching your stock reduce ... down to the last half dozen cups ... knowing that you CAN get more, but only crap tasting coffee - but it does give you that kick or relaxation you want from it. And you'll pay double the price of a good cup for each crappy cup. And while you're not able to earn your salary, the person who withholds your legal right to coffee is not only earning an enormous salary, but her son is making a killing selling you his crappy coffee - which you would normally never buy!

Okay, rant over. It really is unbelievable that we are in this situation ... insufferable!

Well, with the power outages, I didn't bake any bread - it takes 3 hours, and the first hour and a half in the machine. It was a little too late to start, when the power finally came back. I did, however, bake a batch of cookies. I need electricity for that, too - but only to be able to wash my hands afterwards!

Lady Jane came is at a fairly reasonable time, just after five, so I stood by the door and Mewthos and Mini came running - so I gave them a treat and shut them in! Then, when I went to call Ziva, I only had to call once and she came running home at top speed! Happy, happy! All my mippies home, safe and sound and early! Oh, there was some attention seeking - I gave attention ... now they're sleeping on the bed, again.

Last night they hogged the foot end of the bed so badly, I ended up curled up at the top end! They spread out sometimes, and then there's no gap for me to stick my feet in between them, and I end up cramped at one end. Mini is no problem, I just pick her up and shove her under the duvet with me - she stays there enjoying the attention for a while, then goes off to find herself a place again. The others are a little more difficult - they tend to stalk off if I pick them up for a cuddle (and to make room for me). Then they come back, restless, mipping and meandering around disturbing the sleepers!

Poor mippies, don't yet know that I'm going out tomorrow and they'll be shut indoors again ... hope it won't be for too long, though!